Student Unit: Compact Wood-Lined Hut Is Cheap and Comfortable

Everything a college student could ask for in a living space, from a private kitchen to a relaxing hammock chair, fits comfortably inside a mere 10-square-meter space. It’s easy to imagine multiple ‘Studentboende’ huts lined up beside each other on a college campus as an alternative to the typical cramped, uncomfortable housing, and students probably wouldn’t find much to complain about in the cozy, private digs.

The concept, by Tengbom Architects, highlights an affordable, eco-friendly way to give students their very own on-campus living spaces decked out with all the comforts of home. Displayed at the Virserum Art Museum in Sweden, the prototype is made almost entirely of cross-laminated wood to save on building costs.

The floor area is a significant reduction from the typical 25 square meters often seen in Sweden’s student housing, yet efficient use of that space ensures that occupants still have everything they need and more. A sleeping loft, small kitchen, bathroom and even a pat with a garden are included within these diminutive dimensions.

Narrow stairs lead from the bottom floor up to the loft, and the full ceiling height is used for storage space along the walls. The architects stress that in addition to the compact size of the unit, the key to affordable and private student housing is choosing a material that’s energy-efficient, locally sourced and easy to assemble.